The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-29
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
FOUND WANTING
One morning--it was a particularly lovely
morning-Ernest was standing after break.
fast smoking. Jeremy was lounging on an
easy chair on the veranda, In company with
the boy Roger Aston, and intensely inter-
ested in watching a furious battle between
two lines of ants, black and red, who had
their homes somewhere In the stonework.
For long while the issue Of the battle re-
mained doubtful, victory inclaing, if any
thing to the side of the thin red line, when
suddenly from the entrance to the nest of the
black ants there emerged battalion Of
giants, great fellows, at least six times the
size Of the others, who fell upon the red ants
and routed them, taking many prisoners.
Then followed the most curious spectacle,
namely, the deliberate execution of the cap
tive red ants, by having their heads bitLln
off by the great black soldiers Jeremy and
Roger knew what was coming very well, for
these battles were Of frequent occurrence,
and the casualties among the red ants simply
frlShtful On this occasion they determined
to save the prisoners, which was effected by
dipping match in some Of the nicotine at
the bottom of pipe and placing it in front
OF the black giants. The ferocious insects
would thereupon abandon their captives and
rushing at the strange intruder hang on like
bulldogs till the poison did its work, and they
dropped off senseless, to recover presently
and stagger off home, holding their legs to
their antenn@ and exhibiting every other
symptom of frightful headache.
Jeremy was sitting on n chair oiling the
matches, and Roger. kneeling on the pave
ment, was employed in beguiling the giants
into biting them, when suddenly they heard
the sound of galloping horses and the rattle
of wheels. The lad, lowering his head still
more, looked out toward the market square
through gap between tho willow stems.
"Hurrah Mr.. Jonesl" he said, "here comes
the mail"
Next minute, amid loud blasts from the
bugle, and enveloped in cloud of dust, the
heavy cart, to the sides and seats of which
the begrlmmed, worn out passengers were
clinging like drowning men to straws, came
rattling along as fast as the six grays reserved
for the last stage could gallop, and vanished
toward the postoflice
"Iheres the mail, Ernest, hallooed Jeremy;
"she will bring the English letters"
Ernest nodded, turned little pale, and
nervously knocked out his pipe No wonder;
that mail cart carried his destiny, and he
knew It, Presently he walked across the
square to the postofllce. The letters were not
sorted, and he was the first person there.
AT last the little shutter of the postofice
was thrown up, and Ernest got his own let
ters, together with those of Mr. Aston and
''";einy. lie turned into tho shade of q
ncighhnring veianda and rapidly sorted the
pile. There was no letter in Eva's hand
writing. But there was one in that of her
sister Florence. Ernest knew the writing
well; there was no mistaking its peculiar. up
right, powerful looking characters. This he
opened Lurriedly, lnclosed in the letter was
note, which was il the writing he had ex-
pected to see. lie rapidly unfolded it, and as
ho did So Il flash of fear passed through his
brain.
why did she write In this wayln
The note could not have been long one.
for in another minute it was lying on the
ground, and Ernest, pale faced, and with
catching breath, was clinging to the veranda
post with both hands TO save himself from
falling. In few seconds he recovered, and
picking up the note, walked quickly across
the square toward his house.
few seconds later Mr.. Aston and Jeremy.
from their point of vantage on the yeranda.
saw Ernest coming with swift strides up the
garden path. His face was drawn with pain.
and there was fleck of blood upon his lin.
He passed them without u word, and. enter.
ing the house, slammed the door of his own
room, MIR. Aston and Jeremy looked at one
another
whats upi" said the lnconic Jeremy.
MIR. Aston thought a while before he an
swered, as was his fashion.
something gone wrong with the ideal,
should say" he said at length; shat Is the
way of ideals"
Shall we go and seer said Jeremy, un-
easily.
"No, give him minute or two to pull hin.
self together Lots of time for consolation
afterward."
Meanwhile Ernest, having got into his
room, sat down upon the bed and again
read the note which was inclosed In Flor
ence's letter. Then he folded 1t up and put 1t
down, slowly and methodically. Next he
opened the other letter, which he had not yet
looked at, and read that too. After he had
done it be threw himself face downward on
the pillow, AT that moment he heard foot
steps approaching, Mr.. Aston and Jeremy
entered.
ANY letters, Enestf asked the former.
"Lettersl Oh, yes, beg your pardon, here
they are" and he took a packet from the
pocket of his white coat and handed them to
him.
Mr.. Aston took them, looking all the
while fxedly at Ernest, who avoided his
glance.
what is the matter my boyi" he said,
kindly, at last; nothing wrong, hopep
Ernest looked at him blankly.
What is it, old chapP said Jeremy, seat
ing himself on the bed beside him, and laying
his hand on his arm
Then Ernest broke out into paroxysm of
grief painful to behold. Fortunately for ali
concerned, it was brief. Had it lasted much
longer, something must have given way.
Suddenly his mood changed and he grew
hard and bitter.
"Nothing, my dear fellows, nothing" he
said that is, only the sequel to a pretty
little idyl You may remember letter
wrote-to woman-some months back.
There, you both of you know the story Now
you shall hear the answer, or, TO be more cor
rect, the answers.
"That-woman has a sister Both she and
her sister have written 10 me. My--her sis.
ters letter is the longest We will take it
first l think we may skip the first page,
there Is nothing particular In it, and do not
wish to--waste your time. Now listen;
BY the way, have piece OF news for
you which will interest you, and which you
will, am sure, be glad TO hear; for, Of
course, you will havc by this time got over
any little teildresse YOU may have had in that
direction. Eva tha. is the woman 10 whom
! wrote, and 10 whom / thought | was On.
gagedl is going to be married TO "A Mr.. Plow-
den, gentleman who has been acting as
locum tenens for Mr.. lIalford'p Here
Jeremy sprung up and swore great oath.
Ernest motioned him down and went on;
Il say am certain thai you will be glad 10
hear this, because the match is In every respect
satisfactory one. and will, am sure, bring